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peaks










ascent
distance
time

start
finish
maps
An Coileachan (923m, Munro 266)
Meall Gorm (949m Munro 215)
Beinn Liath Mhor Fannaich (954m Munro 209)
Sgurr Mor (1110m Munro 43)
Meall na Crasgaidh (934m Munro 243)
Sgurr nan Clach Geala (1093m Munro 53)
Sgurr na Each (923m Munro 267)
Sgurr Breac (999m Munro 138)
A'Chailleach (997m Munro 144)
Fionn Bheinn (933m Munro 246)

2850m (9,350ft)
50km (31m)
(incl 12km (7.5m) cycle on road) 9-12hr

Loch Glascarnoch (NH 280 741)
Destitution Road (NH 163 760)
OS landranger 19 and 20
main route summary 
The Fannaichs form a long chain of peaks around Loch Fannaich. Once up on the ridge, the going is easy over grass and paths, it's the getting there that's difficult. Although the routes are shorter from Fannaich dam and you could include Fionn Bheinn in the outing, you will need to get up the private road from Loch Luichart. It is therefore easier to split the route into two, taking Fionn Bheinn from Achnasheen and bagging the other nine peaks from the north.
Fannaichs weblinks
Get the local area weather forecast here
See todays conditions on the nearby Torridon Webcam
Relaxed friendly accommodation at The Old Manse north of Garve
Food and accommodation at the Aultguish Inn or Ledgowan Hotel
A visit the dramatic Corrieshalloch Gorge is a must

main route outline
Starting from the western end of Loch Glascarnoch, this route takes in 9 munros peaks in a east to west direction. Fine views improve further the more west and higher you proceed. Leave a bike at Loch a'Bhraoin for the cycle back to the car.

An Coileachan
Park by the Loch Glascarnoch Weather Station, just west of the western end of the loch. A signs directs you eastwards to the 'Suggested route' to Beinn Liath Mhor Fannaich via Altan Wood. Quite why you would want to take this route to Beinn Liath Mhor Fannaich is beyond me ! It is however an ideal way to head to An Coileachan. From the sign by the road, head up the track through the forest for 2km. Out the other end a sign points to a bridge, cross this and follow a faint path up the Abhainn a'Ghuithais Li to another bridge. Cross the river again via this bridge and strike ssw uphill over heathery ground and aim for Loch Gorm. At the se of this loch there is a bealach with a path across it starting up the northern side of An Coileachan. The path fades out higher up, but keep slightly w of the crest and you'll continue over grassy ground and avoid most of the boulder field. There's a large carin on the summit with plenty of shelter out of any westerly winds.

Meall Gorm
Leave An Coileachan and return along the route up for 0.5km to hit boulders. Turn wnw and reach grassy Bealach Ban, where a faint path is picked up. Follow this uphill to the bouldery summit ahead, then continue along the crest to Meall Gorm, encountering a collapsed stalkers shelter on the way. Not the most exciting summit !

Beinn Liath Mor Fannaich
Continue along the crest, dropping around 100m, then pick up a stalkers path coming up from the south. This path skirts around the next bump and up Meall nam Peithirean. From this minor top, head nw and start climbing up Sgurr Mor. Look out for a path on the right that heads into the coire. This path contours around Sgurr Mor and brings you out on Sgurr Mor's eastern arm to a small stone shelter. A path continues ne downhill for 1km to the bealach below Beinn Laith Mhor Fannaich, then climbs up the western side of this peak. Continue to the highest point on the path, then turn se to climb up around 50m to reach the two untidy cairns on the summit.

Sgurr Mor
Return to the stone shelter, then follow the path that heads directly up Sgurr Mor, hugging the coire and gradually changing direction from e to aim n. A large well-constructed cairn sits on the summit. This is a superb vantage point with wonderful views in all directions.

Meall a'Chrasgaidh
Nw from Sgurr Mor a path heads downhill through the boulders and scree. As it levels out the ground underfoot becomes grassy and easier to progress over. The path zig-zags up an obvious line to the minor top of Carn na Criche. In good weather the route from Carn na Criche to Meall a'Chrasgaidh is obvious, however if in mist, keep on the path heading w for 0.5km, then turn nw on pathless ground for a further 0.5km to reach some wet ground. Turn nnw uphill for just over another 0.5km on grassy, then bouldery ground to reach the summit cairn. Fine views along to An Teallach over the Destitution Road.

Sgurr na Clach Geala
Return to the wet bealach, then head for a large boulder sse ahead. Just above this boulder is a lochan, head around the western end of this, then start climbing up easy scree. Occasional clambering up will get you to a path that follows around Sgurr nan Clach Geala's coire. Some care is needed to continue to the ruined trig point on the small summit. An excellent spot to stop and take in the views.

Sgurr nan Each
Sgurr nan Each appears tiny below, but there is a bit of ascent to get up it ! From Sgurr nan Clach Geala's trig point, stick on the path that follows the ridge se. After just under 200m, turn s, still on the path and start heading downhill - there's nearly 300m of descent. At the col, keep on the path and follow the edge of the coire up to Sgurr nan Each's cairn.

Sgurr Bhreac
Return to the col, then turn w and start losing height. It's grassy underfoot, but care is needed as hidden holes lie waiting in the wet reeds. After dropping 250m, the bealach below Sgurr Breac is reached. You might baulk at the though of the 400m ascent awaiting ahead, particularly towards the end of the day. But persist - it is a haul up right enough, but mainly over grass covered ground following a pretty good path for most of the way. Sgurr Breac has two cairns on its summit plateau.

A'Chailleach
Continue w over Sgurr Breac on its path and drop to a col. Ahead is the minor top of Toman Coinich, cross over this and drop to another col below A'Chailleach and above Loch Toll an Lochain. Follow a line of fence-posts and the path to the small cairn on the summit. Fine views to finish the day off.

Return
Return to the col below Toman Coinich, then contour ne around this peak. Though not obvious at first, a path is picked up and followed on the western side of Druim Reidh. The northern end of Druim Reidh is reached, where the ground flattens and becomes quite wet with occasional peat hags. Turn ne and head for a cairn which marks the top of the path down. Twisty and mucky in bits, the path is obvious and heads down to a bridge at the eastern end of Loch a'Bhraoin. Pick up a track at the boat-house and head to the lay-by on the A832, the 'Destitution Road'. Hopefully you've arranged some transport back to Loch Glascarnoch - I tend to cycle back.


Fionn Bheinn was the last munro on my first round.
If you're interested, then details are here
Fionn Bheinn
Fionn Bheinn is not a particulary exciting or interesting hill, however due to its isolation, the summit affords great views to the other Fannaichs and peaks to the west. On a clear day the route couldn't be more obvious.

Park by the railway station in Achnasheen, then cross the main road and head up a track by the farm. Through the farm gates - there's usually a lot of sheep around here, then start climbing up pathless grassy ground. Keep heading nnw. Over one bump marked Creagan nan Laogh, then more of the same to Fionn Bheinn's coire - Toll Mor, where turn left and the summit trig point is a few minutes further on. Return by thte same route.

Ascent : 830m, distance : 11km



Bite size chunks
You might find doing 3000m ascent over 30km just a bit much, if so split the main route into three smaller outings :

A'Chailleach and Sgurr Bhreac
From the lay-by on the Destitution Road, 6km on from Braemore Junction, head down on the track to Loch a'Bhraoin. Cross to bridge and start to head uphill. A wet path climbs directly up towards the crags of Leitir Fhearna, getting drier and twisty further up. A small cairn is reached at the top of this craggy nose, from which continue on a faint and occasionally wet path over grass for 1km sw. The path turns s, then instead of keeping to the crest, suprisingly starts to contour on the west side of Druim Reidh. Keep on this path which continues to the col between A'Chailleach and Toman Coinich, hitting a bouldery section on the way. At the col follow a line of fence posts and obvious path to the summit of A'Chailleach.Return to the col, head over Toman Coinich to another col, then on a path head up to the two summit cairns of Sgurr Breac.

For the return you could re-visit Toman Coinich and head out on the route in. However I've found it more enjoyable to run down the east shoulder of Sgurr Breac, then pick up a good, if wet, path heading north following the Allt Breabaig back to Loch a'Bhraoin.

Ascent : 1175m, distance : 16km

Meall a'Chrasgaidh, Sgurr nan Clach Geala and Sgurr nan Each
Start as the route above and head down to Loch a'Bhraoin. Cross the bridge, then head se on the wet path to meet the Allt Breabaig. The path crosses the river (difficult in spate), from where head ese uphill over heather to climb up 650m to Meall a'Chrasgaidh. Bag Sgurr nan Clach Geala and Sgurr nan Each, then head down to the pass between Loch Fannaich and Loch a'Bhraoin as described in the main route. From the pass pick up a good path heading north back to Loch a'Bhraoin and to the road.

Ascent : 1150m, distance : 17km

An Coileachean, Meall Gorm, Sgurr Mor and Beinn Liath Mor Fannaich
Follow the main route as described on the left and climb up An Coileachan then Meall Gorm. Continue along Meall Gorm's crest, dropping around 100m, then pick up a stalkers path which skirts around the next bump and up Meall nam Peithirean. From this minor top, head nw and climb up Sgurr Mor. From Sgurr Mor's large cairn, return a bit, then follow a path around the edge of the coire heading se. Drop to a small stone shelter, then continue on the path ne downhill for 1km to the bealach below Beinn Laith Mhor Fannaich. Stick to the path ahead and continue to its highest point, where turn se and climb up around 50m to reach the two untidy cairns on the summit. Return to the top of the path, then follow it to an abrupt end. Head n over a plateau, then, still heading n, start to descend over heather and boulders to reach the Allt a'Mhadaidh. Cross the river and pick up a track to follow to the dam at Loch Droma. A 3km jog back along the A835 awaits for the return back to the car-park.

Ascent : 1400m, distance : 22km
fannaichs